Ford’s plainspokenness (and the places he’s done his homework) offer a pointed reminder that he didn’t start out on the same social plane that Morgan did—he’s earned his wealth and power, while Morgan (at least in part) inherited his. This suggests that the American Dream does, in fact, work—although it often requires a person to make an audacious break with their roots. Readers should note the name of Ford’s book, “Fakir,” looks like an exotic name, but it also renders the title “An Eastern
Fakir’s Eternal Wisdom.” Fakirs are Muslim ascetics who renounce worldly possessions as part of their spiritual quest, and in by the early 20th century this word was used more generally to indicate religious practitioners of any faith who renounced their worldly possessions, particularly those residing in the Middle East and South Asia. The fact that Ford’s book was published and sold by a novelty company, however, suggests its dubious origin.